Vacuum hair curler



Dec. 14, 1965 c. E. WINTERS VACUUM HAIR CURLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 CHARLES E.WINTERS FIGS ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 c. E. WINTERS 3,223,093

VACUUM 'HAIR CURLER Filed Jan. 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent Oil ice 3,223,093 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,093 VACUUM HAIR CURLER Charles E. Winters, 9430 Jamaica Ridge, Miami, Fla. Filed Jan. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 252,146 2 Claims. (Cl. 13238) This invention relates to a device and process for curling and setting hair, and more particularly to a process and means which is for use in beautifying treatments such, for example, as the so-called cold waving process.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel device and process for curling hair which utilizes a vacuum source to position selected hairs in a curling device of novel design.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel curling device comprising the combination of a fabric hair strand enclosure and built in spring means which causes the enclosure to coil upon itself.

Another object is to provide a novel hair curling device comprising an elongated tube-like member adapted to receive a strand of hair upon application of a vacuum, said tube-like member being normally urged into a compactly rolled coil by built in coil spring means, and a rigid elongated vacuum receptacle member, one end of which is connected with a source of vacuum, and the other end of which is adapted to receive and envelop said tubelike member when it is uncoiled and drawn therein by the vacuum and the provision of suitable means to receive a hair curling or treating fluid and apply it to the hair when it is in straightened out position within the receptacle.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an inner elongated flexible container which is adapted to receive strands of hair to be curled, which container may be made of paper, fabric or any other desirable flexible material, and of any shape or cross-section, coil spring means operatively associated with said container which normally tends to coil the container about itself, a second outer elongated rigid container of an inside diameter or dimension which is larger than the outer diameter or dimension of the flexible hair container and a source of vacuum which may be readily applied to said second rigid outer container which will cause the inner container to be uncoiled by the suction created by the vacuum and drawn within the outer rigid container, together with the hair to be curled, and access means formed in the second container to apply a liquid hair treating chemical to the hair after it is drawn into the second container.

Another object is to provide a novel, simple, and easily operated method of curling or treating hair comprising of an elongated flexible self coiling hair treating container, which is fabricated of a material which has been pre-impregnated or saturated with such chemicals as are desired for treating a strand of hair, and vacuum means for drawing the strand of hair into the container and straightening the strand of hair out lengthwise within the container while uncoiling the container to an approximately straightened out position, and then releasing the vacuum to permit the container to automatically coil upon itself snugly against the scalp of the head of hair being treated.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description thereof and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the flexible hair strand curler container shown in its straightened uncoiled position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the hair strand curler container in operative position within the rigid outer container and connected with a vacuum hose;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic exploded view illustrating the three principal parts of the invention including the flexible hair strand curler container in coiled position enclosing a strand of hair adjacent the head, the rigid outer container and a source of vacuum;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible hair strand container in coiled position with the strand of hair coiled therein, and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the hair strand curler container positioned within the rigid outer container and illustrating means for applying a liquid hair curling or treating chemical;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic exploded view illustrating the application of a vacuum nozzle directly to the flexible hair strand curler;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a cylindrical comb accessory;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another, modified form of the coiling wire;

FIGURE 9 illustrates in cross-section a modified form of hair curling device shown in its extended position, and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-section view of the modified form of hair curling device illustrated in FIGURE 9, shown in its contracted position.

Referring now to the invention disclosed in the drawings in detail, in which like parts bear like reference numerals throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a self-coiling hair strand curler 10, shown in its straightened out uncoiled position. This curler 10 may be made of any desirable flexible material which in one form of the invention may be pre-impregnated or saturated with such chemicals as are desired to facilitate curling of the hair, and otherwise treating the hair for desired gloss, coloring or other conditioning. A light metal, plastic or other frame 11, may be arranged at the mouth end 12, to maintain the flexible hair strand container 10 in position to readily receive a strand of hair 14 to be curled, as shown in FIGURES l and 2.

A wire coil spring 16 is operatively joined in any suitable manner to the flexible container 10, throughout its length. Said wire coil spring 16 is of a type which normally coils upon itself, and will roll up the flexible container into a coiled position as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 when no uncoiling force is exerted upon it.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the flexible self coiling inner container 10 in partially coiled position.

A rigid outer sleeve-like container 18 which may be made of any rigid material such as plastic, metal, or rubber, for example, is provided as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5. Outer container 18 in its preferred form, is larger than the flexible inner 10, and has an internal diameter or dimension which is adapted to receive container 10 as shown in FIGURE 2.

One end, 19, of outer container 18, has a relatively large mouth opening, which is large enough to readily receive inner container 10, and the other end 20, is adapted to be operatively connected with a source of vacuum 21. The vacuum source 21, may be the hose or intake end of any well known household vacuum cleaner or other vacuum appliance.

When the vacuum is applied it will cause a strong flow of air through the outer container 18 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The operation of the device is extremely simple and efficient.

The user inserts the coiled curler 10 into the open end 19 of outer container 18, with the open mouth 12 of the curler {facing outwardly, and applies it to the strand of hair 14 to be curled by bringing the open mouth 12 of the curler into close proximity with the ends of the hair strand. The vacuum source 21 is then activated. This immediately causes a strong flow of air through the outer container 18 in the direction indicated by the arrows. The

strong suction created thereby sucks the coiled inner container into the outer container 18, uncoiling inner container 10 and its coiled spring 16 into the straightened out position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The strand of hair is also sucked into the inner hair container 10 simultaneously as shown, and the hair also assumes a straightened out position. If desired, the flexible material of inner container 10 may be somewhat porous to facilitate the above described action.

After the hair 14, has been sucked into the inner container 10 sufiiciently to lie within the containersubstantially throughout its length, see FIGURE 2, the vacuum is released. The action of coil spring 16 then rolls inner container 10 intov the coiled position against the scalp of the head 25 of the user, as. shown inFIGURES 3 and 4.

The quality or character of the curlisdetermined by the coiling characteristics of the spring 16. It may be very tight or loose and soft as desired, by varying the degree of tension of spring 16.

This snap return spring coiling action is accomplished in a fraction of a second. The entire operation may be done very quickly with little effort on the part of the user.

'19 of outer container 18, or directly to the open end of a vacuum cleaner appliance nozzle when using the method shown in FIGURE 6, that is, without intermediate outer hair curler 10 hereinbefore described and has suitable spring means 41 associated therewith, also as hereinbefore described, which normally contracts and collapses the bellows tightly together under spring tension in the position illustrated in FIGURE 10.

When the vacuum is applied the accordian bellows expands as illustrated in FIGURE 9 due to the strong suction flowing in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The tightly coiled and curled up hair within the flexible I spring operated container 10' is left in that position until the required time has elapsed to effect the desired curl. The curler 10 is then removed by simply pulling it away from the head and the strand of hair 14 is thus Withdrawn from curler 10 and springs back in desired curled position against the head.

If it is desired to apply the hair curling or treating fluid to the strand of hair after it has been sucked into the straightened position shown in FIGURESVZ and 5, an aperture 26 may be formed in one side of the outer container 18 to receive applicator nozzle 27 through which the fluid may be applied.

Many varieties. of well known methods of applying the hair treating fluid to the hair may be utilized. Any suitable closures may be employed. CO gas, and other means are contemplated.

If desired the vacuum curling process and self coiling curler device of this invention may be employed without the useof the outer rigid container 18 by using any well known accessory nozzle of a home vacuum cleaner or other portable source of vacuum and. applying it directly to curler 10 as shown in FIGURE 6.

It is contemplated, in the use of this invention, that the degree of vacuum to be applied may be varied. as desired, that is a high, strong vacuum or a low milder vacuum.

The strength of the coiling action may also be varied as desired by the use of springs having lower or higher degrees of coiling tension. Graded tensions along the length may be utilized such, of example, as faster stronger coiling action at outer end of the spring, and slower milder coiling action at the inner end, or otherwise.

In FIGURE 7 of the drawings there is illustrated an accessory device in the form of a cylindrical comb 30, having teeth 31 which, may be extended inwardly or outwardly and at any angle. These teeth serve to comb or separate the strands of hair 14, as they are sucked into the curler 10 by the vacuum source 21. The comb may be operatively associated with the air intake end The hair strand '14 is sucked into the accordian type eon- .tainer 41). When the vacuum is released spring 41 closes the accordian bellows 40 to the position of FIGURE 10 and the hair is confined and pressed in a position therein which created an even soft beautiful wave.

This invention contemplates the use of various forms of ceiling springs, for example, one such as is shown in FIGURE 8, and numbered 36, is a zig zag form in plan view, and extends over a greater area of the hair curler container, Zig zag spring 36, is adapted to be coiled in the same manner and for the same purpose as hair coil spring 16 hereinbefore described.

It is also contemplated that wide flat, round or other shape of coiling springs may be used. Several coiling springs arranged in parallel lines may also be utilized.

It is claimed:

1. Apparatus for fixing hair in set positions in the presence of a hair treating chemical including a flexible self-coiling elongated hair strand container, a rigid elongated outer container surrounding and receiving said flexible self coiling hair strand container, and vacuum means operatively associated with the rigid container adapted to create a suction therein strong enough to uncoil the flexible self-coiled hair strand container and draw it into the rigid container and into an extended and substantially straight position, and simultaneously draw a strand of hair into a substantially straight position within the flexible container.

2. Apparatus for fixing hair in set positions as described in claim 1, wherein means associated with the rigid outer container is provided for applying the hair treating chemical to the hair after it is drawn into the container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,433,141 12/ 1947 McPherson 132 -4O 2,654,372 10/1953 Stoyanoff '1323 8. 2,791,225 5/1957 Simmons l327 2,811,159 10/1957 Stanton 132-43 2,869,559 1/1959 Moore 132-7 3,078,855 '2/1963. Lovret 13243 3,109,438 11/1963 Work '1323l RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FIXING HAIR IN SET POSITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF A HAIR TREATING CHEMICAL INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE SELF-COILING ELONGATED HAIR STRAD CONTAINER, A RIGID ELONGATED OUTER CONTAINER SURROUNDING AND RECEIVING SAID FLEXIBLE SELF COILING HAIR STRAND CONTAINER, AND VACUUM MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIGID CONTAINER ADAPTED TO CREATE A SUCTION THEREIN STRONG ENOUGH TO UNCOIL THE FLEXIBLE SELF-COILED HAIR STRAND CONTAINER AND DRAW IT INTO THE RIGID CONTAINER AND INTO AN EXTENDED AND SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT POSITION, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY DRAW A STRAND OF HAIR INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT POSITION WITHIN THE FLEXIBLE CONTAINER. 